Jordan Todd set a career-high with four touchdowns Friday against Juanita.
It took him all of four days to set a new standard.
Todd scored a whopping seven touchdowns, helping to lead Interlake to a 55-34 victory over North Mason in the West Central District play-in game on Tuesday night in Bellevue.
Todd rushed for 206 yards and six touchdowns on 21 carries and also added a 79-yard kickoff return for another touchdown.
“The best performance I’ve seen from a running back ever,” said Interlake coach Jason Rimkus. “He’s a special kid, character-wise, and that shows on the field. That’s what gives him the extra yard.”
The 5-foot-5, 160-pound junior got the Saints (2-8) off to a quick start. After Interlake’s defense forced North Mason to go three-and-out, Todd scored a 65-yard touchdown run on the next play.
He added scoring runs of 31, 12, and 18 yards in the remainder of the first half, along with the big kickoff return.
“KingCo is really tough,” Todd said. “Playing all of those hard teams got me ready for this. It just doesn’t compare.”
After senior quarterback Matt Malos connected with wide receiver Scotty Gehlhausen for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 2:04 remaining in the first half, the Saints led 42-7.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Todd scored his sixth touchdown of the night on a 16-yard run to make the score 49-14 Interlake.
“With Matt [Malos] a little dinged up, we just said the same thing we did against LIberty and Juanita and that was that we were going to ride the 22 train,” said Rimkus, referencing Todd’s number.
Then the Bulldogs offense woke up. North Mason (4-6) scored its second touchdown of the night on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Becker to Tevin Williams. After the Saints went three-and-out, Williams hauled in another touchdown pass, this time on an 87-yard halfback pass from Kasey Bielac.
The Bulldogs struck again early in the fourth quarter on another Becker touchdown pass to Tommy Renne.
After Todd scored his seventh touchdown of the night on a 7-yard run, Bielac and Williams hooked up for another halfback pass touchdown, this time for 67 yards.
North Mason, however, couldn’t convert several onside kick attempts and their comeback bid ran out of time.
“We’ve never been in this situation before,” Rimkus said. “They learned a lesson and you could tell, because we won and they weren’t happy.”
Defensively, the Saints were led by sophomore Kamana Adriano, who pulled down three interceptions.
With the win, Interlake moves on to play at Clover Park on Saturday. Rimkus said a season playing in KingCo 3A/2A has the Saints ready now that the postseason is here.
“I”m proud to represent our conference because, without it, we wouldn’t be the team we are,” he said. “We just beat up on each other and that is what prepares us.”
